Our Team

Ted Wun, M.D., FACP is a hematologist and medical oncologist with a focus on non-malignant blood disorders. He has special clinical interest and expertise in the care of patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD). In addition, he often consults on patients with venous thrombosis, especially associated with cancer. Dr. Wun's main research interests are in SCD and cancer-associated venous thrombosis. Contributions of his research group have included more fully describing the epidemiology of cancer-associated thrombosis and complications of SCD. He has also led or participated in clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for people with these disorders.

Oyebimpe Adesina, M.D., M.S. specializes in the diagnosis and management of adults with non-malignant hematologic disorders. She has clinical expertise in sickle cell disease (SCD) and her research focuses on how skeletal complications contribute to the development of chronic sickle cell pain in adults. Dr. Adesina also studies growth outcomes in pediatric SCD and the epidemiology of SCD health outcomes in California.

Christine Teklehaimanote, M.S.N., G.N.P., A.O.C.N.P. is the adult Sickle Cell Disease Nurse Practitioner. She believes in partnering with patients to make informed decisions by providing the most up to date evidence from clinical research while balancing the personal wishes of individuals. She hopes to improve preventive care for both young adults and older adults living with Sickle Cell Disease. Christine has trained and worked in a variety of settings, including pain and symptom management, clinical trials, bone marrow transplant, and outpatient Hematology and Oncology. She feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such resilient and determined people and strives to improve quality of life for each person.

Angelus Dupree, L.C.S.W. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working primarily with adult and pediatric sickle cell anemia patients. Angelus holds a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters a degree in social work. He has extensive expertise in mental health care and he uses carious evidence based therapeutic techniques to address health adaptive coping. Angelus provides person-centered and compassionate care, and his guiding principle is “Make love the centerpiece of all that you do”. (preferred pronouns: he, him, his)

Natalie Merilus, R.N., M.S. is the adult Sickle Cell Disease Nurse Navigator at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. She began her career working inpatient adult hematology/oncology and there, became interested in the care of patients living with Sickle Cell disease (SCD). She completed her masters in 2015 at UC Davis focusing her thesis on the adult patient's ability and self-efficacy to self-manage their illness. She continues to work with adults living with SCD and is hopeful that both individually and as a member of the care team, she can make an impact on care delivery here at UC Davis, improving quality of life and patient outcomes for the resilient individuals living with Sickle Cell disease here at UC Davis Health.

Arun Panigrahi, M.D. is a pediatric hematology/oncology specialist offering care for children with various cancer diagnoses such as leukemia, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma. He also focuses his practice on various hematological conditions such as sickle cell anemia, bleeding disorders (hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, ITP), and white blood cell disorders. He is involved in many clinical trials to advance care for these patients.

Shaina Willen, M.D. is a board-certified provider in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology as well as Pediatric Pulmonology. She has a clinical interest in lung and breathing complications for patients with sickle cell disease such as asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, acute chest syndrome, and pulmonary vascular diseases. Dr. Willen's research focuses on trying to understand risk factors for lung problems in individuals with sickle cell disease, such as the impact of air pollution and other environmental exposures. She is also working to learn the best treatment strategies for adults and children with sickle cell disease and asthma.

Angelus Dupree, L.C.S.W. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working primarily with adult and pediatric sickle cell anemia patients. Angelus holds a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters a degree in social work. He has extensive expertise in mental health care and he uses carious evidence based therapeutic techniques to address health adaptive coping. Angelus provides person-centered and compassionate care, and his guiding principle is “Make love the centerpiece of all that you do”. (preferred pronouns: he, him, his)